INFORMATION SECURITY AWARENESS OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Nowadays, almost every student has access to mobile phone, computer and internet technologies. Not only students can make use of them for educational purpose, but also they use these technologies as a part of their life. FATIH project intends integration of technological devices to secondary and high schools. In this regard, schools are provided with wireless internet connection and equipped with interactive smart boards. Tablets are supplied free to teachers and students. They are expected to use these technologies for promoting learning process. However, there are possible adverse impacts besides its current/future benefits. If students do not use these technologies safely, cyber victimization behaviors and information security threatening are possible cases that they would face. Therefore, students’ awareness of using secure information and communication technology must be investigated. In the light of the discussions presented, the aim of this study is to investigate aspects of information security awareness of high school students. This section of the study includes information on research model, data collection tool and analysis and interpretation of the data. Survey model is used in this study. Survey methods aim to define a condition, which existed in the past or still exists, as it is. The study was carried out with high schools students who study at the pilot schools in FATIH project in a northern city of Turkey. The sampling method was purposive sampling as a kind of nonprobability sampling. The pilot schools of FATIH project were chosen as criterion. The data of the study were collected via Information Security Awareness Survey that was designed by the researchers. At first, a rough draft of the survey was created based on the literature review. Then, four educational technology experts were asked for reviewing the survey as part of validity. Correction and revision on the survey was fulfilled in accordance with experts’ feedback in order to ensure content validity. A pilot study among 10 students was conducted for the survey items’ readability and understandability. The items’ statements that the participants did not understand were reviewed and revised to finalize the survey. Questions about demographic information were also included in the measuring instrument. To analyze the data, frequency and percentage tables will be created for descriptive analysis. At the end of the study, circumstances about students’ awareness of information security and its high and low characteristics will be discussed. Also, recommendations to raise the awareness of the students will be presented.

Acknowledgment: This research was supported by the Scientific Research Projects Commission of Bartin University, Turkey. (Project No: 2014-SOS-A-004).